JPS62115451A - Diffusion transfer method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing photographic materials by the peel-off diffusion transfer method (hereinafter referred to as DTR method), which apparatus passes through a path in the forward direction to produce an image-wise exposed web and an image-receiving web. transport.

a device for applying processing liquid to the first side of each web at locations where the paths of each web are separated; a device for applying processing liquid to the first side of each web at locations where the paths of each web are separated; a device for guiding said paths to be adjacent; It has a squeezing roller for pressing the wet first surface of the wafer into a tight state. The present invention also relates to a method for diffusion transfer of web material, which method comprises advancing and guiding an imaged web and an image receiving web in a path in an advancing direction, and while their paths are separated. applying a treatment liquid to a first side of each web, bringing the first web sides into contact, forcing the webs to follow an adjacent path, and forcing the wet first sides of the webs into intimate contact to initiate diffusion transfer. Consisting of

The DTR method referred to herein includes not only the silver complex diffusion transfer method for producing black and white images, but also the dye diffusion transfer method for producing dye images.

In the silver complex diffusion transfer method, a silver complex salt is image-wise transferred from a silver halide emulsion layer to an image receiving I- by diffusion,
There they are converted into a silver image, possibly in the presence of development nuclei F. For this reason, the silver rodanide emulsion layer, exposed imagewise, is so-called no-rodanized! ! Developed with a developing substance in the presence of a solvent. In the exposed parts of the negative silver rhodide emulsion layer, the silver rhodide appears in silver, so that it cannot be dissolved further and therefore cannot be diffused... In the unexposed parts of the negative silver rhodanide emulsion layer The silver halide is/・silver rhodanide complexing agent (so-called)・
silver chloride solvent) into a cIT-soluble silver complex salt,
It is transferred by diffusion to an image receiving layer brought into close contact with an adjacent image receiving layer or emulsion layer, usually in the presence of development nuclei, to form a silver image or a silver-containing image in the image receiving layer. By using a negative I-silver rhodide material, a positive silver image is obtained in the receiving material. Further details can be found in Photographic-Silver 7 by Focal Press (London, New York) (1972), written by Nie Korotto and E. Quaid.
It can be found in ``1 Ride E-day Hygiene Brothesis''.

In the practical operation of this method, a photosensitive material is exposed to an original image with a camera or close-up.

The exposed material is then transported with the receiver material to a solution processing unit. At the exit of this unit, the sheets are pressed against each other and diffusion transfer begins. Finally, after a few tens of seconds, the sheets are separated and a copy is obtained.

Dye diffusion transfer is performed in a similar manner.

Investigating how, when an exposed photosensitive sheet is pressed against a receiver sheet, the diffusible dye released imagewise during development diffuses into the receiver sheet to form a dye image thereon. Given by Christian C. Van de Sand in the Book of Angewante, Hemy International Edition, English Edition, Volume 22 (19B3), pp. 191-209.

An example of a processing device for DTR materials is French Patent No. 1374.
No. 801. This specification describes a method and apparatus for feeding two sheets to be processed together with their photosensitive sides spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of a pair of pressure rollers. The sheets are guided back around the pressure rollers and in their travel course their sensitive sides are moistened using rollers and pressure applied to force their sensitive sides into intimate contact to initiate diffusion transfer. It is fed back to the reverse course between the roller nips.

A device of this type provides satisfactory results, for example for the production of single photocopies of quib prints. But this is
Such photocopying is now obsolete due to electronic copying.

A disadvantage of such known processing devices operating with link rollers is that they are in sliding contact with the sensitive side of the sheet in order to properly convey the sheet along with the pressure roller at the exit end of the device to prevent clogging. The problem lies in the fact that a guiding device must be provided.

As a result of this, there is a risk of damaging the sensitive side of one or the other sheet, resulting in a reduction in image quality, and in more delicate applications of the DTR method such defects in the final image cannot be tolerated. Examples of such subtle applications include:

Screen proof, intermediate original for paste-up, light!
There is production of intermediate copies etc. for mechanical methods.

The object of the present invention is to be economical in the use of processing liquids;
Suitable for handling materials for more delicate applications.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for processing photographic materials by the DTR method.

According to the invention, an apparatus is provided for processing web material by the DTR method. This device is.

Apparatus for conveying and guiding an imagewise exposed web and an image-receiving web along a path in the forward direction, and an apparatus for applying processing liquid to a first side of each web at a location where the paths separate; A guiding device to bring the passages into abutment and wetting of the web to initiate diffusion transfer.
J - A liquid applicator having a squeezing roller for urging into intimate contact, the liquid applicator comprising: a pair of rollers disposed between the web paths for applying processing liquid to said first web surfaces while they are in facing relationship; .

and a drive for the liquid application rollers to drive them in counter-rotation so that the circumference of the rollers moves in a rearward direction where they meet! It has an IN device.

The present invention also includes: advancing and guiding an imagewise exposed web and an image-receiving web along a path in a forward direction, applying a processing liquid to a first side of each web while the webs are separated, and bringing the first web sides into contact; and causing the web to follow an adjacent path and forcing the wet fIA first side of the web into intimate contact to initiate diffusion transfer, the method comprising: applying a liquid to the first surface while the web surfaces are in facing relationship;
As used herein in the present invention, the term "web" is characterized in that the circumference of the rollers is carried out by a pair of rollers driven in counter-rotation so as to sweep in a rearward direction where they meet in the web path.

It includes not only sheets but also significantly longer lengths of material.

The use of such devices and methods provides important practical advantages in DTR processing, particularly with respect to the quality of the transferred images. Wetting of the sensitive first side of the material to be treated by counter-rotating link rollers provides uniform and economical application of treatment liquid. Since the sensitive surfaces of the materials face each other when they are wetted, the surfaces of these webs do not need to be bent convexly to bring them into contact with each other, so that these surfaces or on these surfaces Uniform coating of treatment liquid,
and, in particular, there is less risk of damage from contact of these surfaces with subsequent parts or parts of the equipment used.

In fact in a most preferred embodiment of the invention.

The space between the converging web path and in front of the application roller is clean. In this way, the only part of the device that is sensitive to moisture after wetting is contacted by the web surface.

This is a retcrawler for applying processing liquid to other webs. Even if this were to happen.

There is no severe disadvantage as long as the roller itself is moist, so damage to the sensitive web surface or the layer of processing liquid thereon is minimized.

Preferably, between the applicator roller and the area where the web paths become adjacent, these paths are substantially straight. Having the webs follow a substantially straight path to the area where the web will be in contact after wetting reduces or substantially eliminates deviation of the web from its intended path. It turns out that it can be done.

The uniformity of continuous web conveyance is excellent,
It was therefore found that the reproducibility of the wetting process increases accordingly.a The angle between the web paths before the applicator roller is always 6
It is less than 0°. In the most preferred embodiments of the invention, the angle is always less than 40°. By keeping that angle small, fluctuations in one or both directions of the webs are kept small when the webs come into contact following adjacent paths, which allows smooth blending of the webs with each other when they meet. Make it. It is also important for longitudinal alignment of the web. Generally speaking, it is desirable to introduce one web into the other web several times, so that they can be easily separated after diffusion transfer is complete.

Such guiding distance is not critical and is usually kept below 10f1 to avoid unacceptable displacement of the image. However, it is desirable that such derived distances be accurately predictable, which means that they must be reproducible. Reproducibility is facilitated when the angle between the web paths through which the webs come into contact is small.

Preferably, between the first conveying device and the nip of the squeezing roller, any path of the web has a total length of 60'.
Make fewer changes in direction.

This simplifies the guiding of the webs and reduces the risk of damaging their sensitive surfaces. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, between the first conveying device and the nip of the squeeze roller, the path of both webs is Always inclined by more than 60° to the vertical. This has a common horizontal transport in processing equipment, which simplifies its construction and use.

Advantageously, a common transfer roller 5 is provided for supplying liquid to both said applicator rollers at a close distance from said applicator roller in order to maintain beads of processing liquid between the transport roller and each applicator roller.

This facilitates processing and uniform application of liquid to the web surface.

In such an embodiment, the application roller for the downward passage is placed before the transfer roller, the application roller for the upper passage is placed above the transfer roller and the downward passage application roller, and the transfer roller is placed before the transfer roller for the downward passage. Preferably, it is arranged to rotate so as to transfer the liquid to an upper passage imparting roller in front of the roller. This means that the transfer roller is arranged in counter-rotation with respect to the web following the opposite path. This arrangement reduces excess processing liquid that may be picked up by the transfer roller onto the lower web creating a risk of non-uniform image transfer.

Uniform application of the processing liquid is achieved by using the application rollers to maintain beads of processing liquid between them (this is preferred);
This is further facilitated when striping close to each other.

It is particularly preferred that one of the web paths is 'substantially straight between the application roller on that path and the nip of said squeezing roller. Having the wet web follow a path that is substantially straight, at least until diffusion transfer begins, makes it easier to transport the web on a guiding device that carries it on only one of its faces. Make it. so that the wetness sensitivity of the web does not come into contact with any guiding device.
It is advantageous for the downward web to follow such a straight path (as one of the webs is conveyed over the other).Following such a downward path is also desirable for the image-bearing web, since its sensitive surface The web path is generally more easily damaged than that of the image receiving web. Good and desirable.

Preferably, an adjacent path following said throwing roller is provided with a guide plate for supporting the web, and said web paths converge at a position, one of which is supported by said guide plate, which means that the web is initially in contact. This is because it enables good support of the web at certain locations. Said guide plate is provided with rigs to reduce the contact area with the web supported thereon, with openings between the rigs for rapid removal of any liquid that may leak from the supported sheet. Good.

The configuration and operation of the device are as preferred.

It is simplified when the liquid application device comprises a transfer roller arrangement for supplying the treatment liquid to the application roller from a common liquid supply tray placed between the channels.

Preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention are explained below by way of example with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an example of the g position according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 and 2'-2' in FIG. 1, and FIG. It is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in the figure, and FIG. 4 shows the drive of the liquid applying roller.
This is a detailed diagram of the I diagram.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the driving of the conveyance roller, and FIG.
1 is an enlarged view of the processing area of the apparatus according to FIG.

1st r1! With reference to J and FIG. 5, this device has a pair of artificial conveyor rollers 9, 10 for one sheet and inlet conveyor rollers 11, 12 for the other sheet, and a pair of N for removing the sheet from the device. It has a hacking 8 with a reroller 13.43.

The processing area includes a tray 14 containing a processing liquid 15, a rotating liquid transfer roller 16 partially immersed in the liquid, and liquid application rollers 17 and 18.

The liquid application rollers 17 and 18 are mounted at a distance from the liquid supply rollers and each other such that beads 20 and 21 of processing liquid are established and maintained between adjacent roller surfaces during operation of the apparatus. The level 23 of the processing liquid 26 is controlled by a four-pipe 24 by a water intake control A25 to which a supply 26 of the processing liquid 26 is screwed.

The bottom wall 27 of the tray 14 is sloped to match the path 28 of the back sheet through the device, and the rear wall 29 of the tray is sloped so that it lies closer between the transfer roller 16 and the applicator roller 17. It has that height.

Three rollers 16, 17 and 18 for the processing liquid are rotatably mounted between the two seven flange 30 and 31.
F (see third cause J.

These are interconnected by two rows of parallel rods 32 and 33, which define passages 28 and 34 in the corresponding T temples of the sheet by sliding contact with the back side of the sheet. are doing.

The adjacent paths of the converging sheets are further regulated by a guide plate 35 which determines the sheet path corresponding to one path 28 and is in fact tangential to the nip of the pair of inlet rollers 11.12 and also the squeeze rollers 13.
It is also tangential to the roller nip in 4). The guide plate 35 has transverse ribs 36, thereby reducing s1 friction with the lower sheet. It also has a number of small slots 37 through which liquid drained from the sheet is received in a pan 38.

The R reroller 13.43 is equipped with a device for cleaning the roller. The device comprises a cleaning liquid 40, loosely engaging its free edge with the peripheral surface of the application rollers 41, 3 and roller 4) immersed in the liquid, and a visibility wiper blade 42 which is mounted on a support 44. have Application roller: IF-41 driven by frictional contact with roller 43, at the end of which roller 41 is enveloped by a yoke 45 (see area @2, Figure 2-2).

It can move vertically in the tank 39.

The plate is spring biased by spring 46. The liquid in the tank is maintained at a constant level by the bird water absorption control 47, and the liquid is kept in the bottle 4.
Supplied from 8. Tank 39 and pan 38 are provided with hoses 49 and 50, which may be provided with suitable pulp or whose free ends may be closed with suitable ramps or bent, for emptying the tank and pan, respectively. used for

The drive of the several rollers of the device is produced by two motors. A first motor 51 (see FIG. 3) drives the transfer roller 16 by means of a built-in reduction gear 52 and a clutch 53. The roller 16 is connected to the liquid application roller 17 by two parallel rubber belts 54 and 55 running in corresponding belts on the roller shaft. On the other hand, the drive of the upper liquid applicator roller 18 results from the frictional contact of the lower area around the rollers with the upward tension of the belts 54 and 55 between the rollers 16 and 17 (see FIG. 4).

The rotation direction of the roller in this method is the first fl! Jg and as shown in FIG. 6 are obtained. Clutch 53 has an interfit that allows vertical removal of the shaft of roller 16 from the drive motor for removal of the processing area from the device for maintenance purposes.

Drive of the sheet transport rollers is provided by a second motor (not shown) driving drive shafts 56 and 57, as shown in FIG. 5, which are provided with forms 58 and 59.

These are associated with corresponding form wheels 60 and 6 fitted into corresponding ones of roller pairs 9.10 and 13.4).
1 is engaged. Roller pair 11.12 is roller 1
Form wheel (not shown) provided on the shaft of 1
is driven by the form 58 via the.

The processing solution used in the diffusion transfer processing method and apparatus can be any processing solution used in well-known silver halide complex salt diffusion transfer methods.

For these, please refer, for example, to the book "Photograph Inc. Silver Halide Defusion Processes" by N.Y. Lott and E. Quaid, published by 7Ocal Press (London and New York) in 1972.

According to a preferred embodiment, the processing liquid is an alkaline aqueous liquid used in combination with photographic silver halide emulsion material already mixed with developer.

To increase the wetting capacity of the processing liquid, it is possible to use wetting agents (coating aids) 1 such as those described in U.S. Pat. A compound of salt.

For example, the ammonium salt of perfluorocaprylic acid and F, C(CF2J6CONH(CH,CJ(,04,
, -H is preferably contained.

Preferably, the processing liquid also contains a thickening agent to prevent deposition of processing liquid components on the roller at the air-liquid interface in the preliminary position. A particularly suitable thickener for this purpose is polyacrylamide.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: fill bottle 26 with a suitable treatment liquid and fill bottle 48 with a cleaning liquid, such as water. The processing liquid, which rotates the rollers in the wet processing zone, is at room temperature or at a higher temperature (preferably temperature controlled).

Place the photosensitive DTR sheet on the F Manjin Robe 62,
The four-lighted photosensitive side faces upward according to the image and is advanced until its leading edge abuts against the nip of a pair of inlet transport rollers 11.12.

Connect the receptor llTR sheet to the upper inlet plate 63 and Vc@
the image-receiving side of the sheet facing downward. This sheet is similarly advanced until it comes into contact with a pair of corresponding entrance conveyance rollers at 9°10.

Then, while the sheet is in contact with the corresponding inlet roller, the device! Turn on the drive switch and start moving the sheet through the device.

The sheets follow paths 28 and 34.

Contact with the corresponding liquid application rollers ensures that their mutually facing sides are uniformly wetted with the processing liquid. Reverse rotation of the treatment rollers has the effect of applying a very uniform layer of treatment liquid to the sheet with a very limited thickness.

The thickness of the treatment liquid applied layer depends on several factors.
These include, for example, the viscosity, surface tension, and temperature of the processing liquid;
There are peripheral speed and surface structure of the rick roller.

The photosensitive sheet continues its path onto the guide plate 35 and the receptor sheet enters in contact with the photosensitive sheet at the point where the photosensitive element is already supported on the guide plate 35. Contact between both sheets should be made at as small an angle as possible.

This is because in this way the receptor sheet follows the photosensitive sheet into the path with the quickest and smoothest conformity. In the device of the invention, the angle α between passages 28 and 34 is only 37.5°. The fact that this angle can be made so small is a direct result of the compactness of the wet processing area, requiring only a limited gap between the two sheets. The straight path of the sheets towards the mutual contact area between the sheets ensures a very stable and uniform advancement of the sheets under the control of the pair of inlet rollers.

The liquid that sometimes adheres to the sheet and flows back due to the squeezing action of the squeezing rollers 13 and 4) flows through the slot 37 and drips into the pan 38. Squeezing rollers 13 and 43 force the sheets toward each other.

This starts the diffusion transfer method.

After both sheets of Sandkuitschi exit the device.

Leave the two sheets untouched for a certain period of time until the diffusion transfer is complete (then peel the two sheets apart. This operation can be easily done by letting the photosensitive sheet guide or pull the receptor sheet a few distances. This can be easily accomplished by making the path of the photosensitive sheet from the entrance roller to the squeeze roller slightly shorter or longer than the corresponding path of the receiver sheet.

Finally, the receptor sheet is dried in a dryer.

The inlet conveying roller 2 and installation rollers of the device provide the opportunity to apply cleaning liquid to the cleaning roller 41, thereby cleaning the outlet squeezing roller.

To avoid this, it is recommended to continue driving for a short time after ejecting the sheet.

The above-mentioned extended rotation of the drive roller is preferably carried out under the control of a suitable microprocessor.

Rotation of the rollers in the wet processing zone is preferably stopped after the see exits the apparatus to limit exposure of the processing liquid to atmospheric oxygen. However, to avoid the crystallization effect of the liquid on the roller.

The rollers, also preferably under microcomputer control, are activated during a suitable jogging cycle.
It is preferable to periodically start the rotation using cycle ).

The following data relates to specific examples of the apparatus described above.

Paper version Sheet conveyance speed 2cIn/Peripheral speed of S rollers 16, 17 and 18 2cm/S Contents of S bottles 26 and 268 Erasing of processing liquid with one sandwich cutter 10tsl
Liquid removed by squeezing roller 13.43 6ml Mantle of rollers 9, 12.13 and 4)
Gap between rubber rollers 16.17 and 18 0.15fl rollers 16 and 1
Diameter of 7 Diameter of 20B roller 18
15m1 roller length
Obviously, a length greater than 300 g is necessary when it is desired to assemble an apparatus for DTR processing sheets of a size thicker than 300 n A4 size. The wet treatment rollers 16, 17, 18 also require a large diameter to prevent bending.

In fact, it was found that about 100 sheets of dye diffusion transfer were made using the treatment liquid 177, and that the quality was satisfactory. This amount of raw M is not possible with conventional diffusion transfer equipment, in which the sheet is immersed in a processing solution contained in a large tray, and the quality of the diffusion transfer deteriorates very quickly.

The trial training mentioned above includes color prints, line drawings, photographic transparencies,
To make full color enlargements or reductions from any colored original, such as a drawing, etc.

This was done with processing solutions and materials such as those used in COPYCOLOR (trademark of Agfufa Gewert, Belgium). In this example, the photosensitive sheet was copy color CCN film, a panchromatic negative film for cameras and enlargers processed in low intensity yellow safe light. This 0.10jJ polyester film was provided with an anti-halation coating.

The receiver sheet was a copy color CCP sheet, a 100 g/v/overlap polyethylene coated paper semi-matte on both sides.

An image of a sheet produced with the apparatus according to the invention.

It completely eliminates transverse streaks and areas of slight discoloration, typical defects caused by prior art processing equipment that feeds the sheet into a tray of processing fluids along a curved path extending between inlet and outlet rollers. It did not contain it.

The apparatus according to the invention can be used successfully for the production of screen proofs, intermediate originals for pasting, and intermediate copies for opto-mechanical methods, as described above.

The device according to the invention is not limited to the specific examples described above.

This apparatus can be incorporated into a larger apparatus that includes an automatic sheet separator, a washer and dryer for the receiving sheets, and a collection station for collecting the photosensitive sheets on rolls.

The device may be provided with an adjustable device for adjusting the introduction of one sheet relative to another.

The functions of the two motors may be performed by one motor coupled by different rollers and suitable transmission gears.

The Vi station may be provided with other known devices for signaling depletion and/or depletion of processing liquids etc., and for controlling the liquid level in the trays and for controlling their temperature. .

The liquid transfer roller, instead of being immersed in the liquid, can be wetted with the processing liquid by spraying or by application of the liquid through slot orifices.

The apparatus may process the web in such a way that the amount of treatment liquid applied to the web is such that the liquid is not squeezed out from between the webs by squeezing rollers.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical joint view of the unit side of the apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 and 2'-2' in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a detailed view of FIG. 1 showing the drive of the liquid application roller, and FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the drive of the conveyance roller. , @6 is an enlarged view of the processing area of the apparatus according to FIG. 9, lO and 11.12 are inlet roller pairs, 13 is a squeezing roller, 14 is a processing tray, 15 is a processing liquid, 16 is a liquid transfer roller, 17.18 is a liquid application roller, 20
, 21 and 22 are treatment liquid beads, 23 is the liquid level in the tray, 24 is a conduit, 25 is a bird water absorption control bottle, 26 is a liquid supply bottle, 27 is a bottom wall of the tray, 28 is a passage in the lower sheet, 29 is the rear wall of the tray, 30.31 is the 7 lunge, 32
．． 33 is a series of rods, 35 is a guide plate, 36 is a transverse rib, 37 is a slot, 38 is a pan, 39 is a chest of drawers, 40
41 is a cleaning liquid, 41 is an application roller, 42 is a blade, 43
ff reroller, 44 support, 45 yoke, 46
is the leaf spring, 48 is the bottle, 49.50 is the hose, 51 is the motor, 52 is the rI & speed gear, and 53 is the clutch. 54.55 is a rubber belt, 58.57 is a drive shaft,
58.59 is the form, 60.61 is the form wheel, and 62.63 is the inlet plate. Patent applicant Agfa Geweld Naamrose
Bennotechigimp Proceedings Amendment Form Showa//2/2/2019 Commissioner of the Patent Office Relationship to the incident 1A is also 1 Hadaike/, ;=====hi1;;Name ヱ7゜〇ふ7゛〛　〉It,l-7-
t-guchiya pa bear no V-→-ya・sofu 0 4, agent

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. Proceeding and guiding an imagewise exposed web and an image receiving web along a path in an advancing direction, applying a processing liquid to a first side of each web while the webs are separated; grant,
A method of diffusion transfer processing a web material comprising bringing the first web surfaces into contact and advancing the web along an adjacent path to push the wetted first side of the web into intimate contact to initiate diffusion transfer, the method comprising: , disposed between the web passages (34, 28) while said first web surfaces are in facing relationship, and driven in counter-rotation so as to cause movement around them in a rearward direction as they combine in the web passage. A diffusion transfer processing method characterized by applying a liquid to the first web surface using a pair of rollers (18, 17). 2. The treatment liquid is supplied to the application rollers (18, 17) by a transfer roller (16) from a common liquid supply tray (14) placed between the passages (34, 28). Method. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the imagewise exposed web follows a downward path (28). 4. Applying liquid to both of said application rollers (18, 17) from a common transfer roller (16) closely spaced from said application rollers (18, 17), and forming beads (20, 22) of treatment liquid. 4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the transfer roller (16) and the respective application roller (18, 17) are held between the transfer roller (16) and each application roller (18, 17). 5. A method as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the transfer roller (16) is arranged to rotate counter-rotating with respect to the web traveling along the lower path (28). 6. Any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the application rollers (18, 17) are closely spaced from each other and the beads (21) of the processing liquid are held between them. The method described in. 7. A method according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the webs are brought into first contact in a position where one of them is supported by the guide plate (35). 8. A device for conveying and guiding the imagewise exposed web and the image receiving web along the path in the forward direction, for applying processing liquid to the first side of each web at a location where the path of each web is separated; 1. An apparatus for processing web material by the DTR method, comprising an apparatus, a guiding apparatus for bringing the passages into contiguity, and a squeezing roller for forcing the first side of the wetted web in intimate contact to initiate diffusion transfer, the apparatus comprising: Since the liquid application device applies the processing liquid to the first web surface while the first web surface is in a facing relationship,
A pair of rollers (
18, 17), and liquid applicator rollers (18, 17) to drive them in counter-rotation to move rearwardly where they meet in the web path.
7) A web material processing device characterized in that it has a drive device (51-55) for. 9. The liquid application device supplies the application roller (
9. The apparatus according to claim 8, comprising a transfer roller device (16) for supplying the treatment liquid to the rollers (18, 17). 10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, in which the spacing between the converging web paths (34, 28) and in front of the application rollers (18, 17) is clean. 11. Claim 8, wherein between the areas where said applicator rollers (18, 17) and web paths (34, 28) become adjacent, these paths are substantially straight.
The device according to any one of items 1 to 10. 12. The angle (α) between the web paths (34, 28) in front of the application rollers (18, 17) is always 60°
12. The device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, which is less than or equal to: 13. Between the nip of the conveying device (9, 10; 11, 12) and the squeezing roller (13, 43), any path (34, 28) of the web undergoes a total change of direction of more than 60°. 13. The device according to any one of claims 8 to 12, which does not. 14. Between the conveying device (9, 10; 11, 12) and the squeezing roller (13, 43), the paths (34, 28) of both webs are always inclined by more than 60° with respect to the vertical; An apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 13. 15, transfer roller (16) and each application roller (1
Such application rollers (18, 17) supply liquid to both said application rollers (18, 17) closely spaced in order to maintain beads (20, 22) of processing liquid between them (8, 17). 15. Device according to any one of claims 8 to 14, in which there is a common transfer roller (16) for. 16, said application roller (1) for the lower passage (28)
7) is placed in front of the transfer roller (16), and the above-mentioned applying roller (18) for the upper passage (34) is placed on top of the lower passage applying roller (17) on the transfer roller (16), Claim 1, wherein the roller (16) is arranged to rotate to transfer liquid to the upper passage imparting roller (18) before the lower passage imparting roller (17).
The device according to item 4 or item 15. 17. Any one of claims 8 to 16, wherein the application rollers (18, 17) are closely spaced from each other in order to maintain beads (21) of treatment liquid between them. The device described in. 18. One web path (28) has an application roller (17) and said squeeze rollers (13, 14) on that path.
18. A device according to any one of claims 8 to 17, wherein the device is substantially straight between the nips of the nips. 19, a lower web path (28) with an applicator roller (17) and said squeezing rollers (13, 43) on the path;
19. Apparatus according to claim 14 or claim 18, wherein the device is substantially straight between the nips. 20. Claim 18, wherein the web path (28) is substantially straight between the nip of said transport device (11, 12) on said path and said squeeze roller (13, 43).
20. The device according to paragraph 19. 21, the guide plate (35) is
21. A device according to any one of claims 8 to 20, provided for supporting a web following adjacent passages (34, 28) to , 43). 22. Device according to claim 21, characterized in that the guide plate (15) is provided with drainage holes (37) and ribbed web support extensions (36). 23. Device according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the web channels (34, 28) converge in a position where one of them (28) is supported by the guide plate 35.